Sometimes costs can really add up when you set out to sell your house. Once you factor everything in – from repairs to commissions to closing costs – a traditional sale with an agent may actually cost you money. In our latest post, you can learn how to sell your home without spending any of your own funds.
When thinking about selling their homes, many homeowners simply decide to avoid selling altogether, and they just stay where they are because they’re concerned about all the costs and other hurdles they may potentially face when working to sell through traditional means. Before we discuss how to sell your house without spending your own hard earned money, lets first take a look at some of the costs home sellers typically face when working with a real estate agent.
Typical Selling Costs
Repairs
Before a house goes on the Omaha MLS, for example, there are often repairs that will need to be made. Repairing walls, painting, cleaning carpets, and fixing leaky pipes may be very wise repairs to make but they can also cost significant money. It’s good to make repairs thoughtfully (keeping in mind your budget and whether the repairs will provide the value you want when you sell); it’s also important to properly disclose anything at the house that needs repairing but that you don’t plan to fix. You should also consider (and budget for) repair requests that may be made after the potential buyer has completed their inspection phase. If the house isn’t appraising high enough for the lender’s liking, you might need to spend additional money increasing the value of the home.
Upgrades
Homeowners will often make upgrades to their property in order to make it competitive with other homes on the market. Updated kitchens and bathrooms often provide a good return when selling. While some upgrades like these can definitely add value, there aren’t necessarily any guarantees. If you do decide to do these types of updates, be sure to visit with your realtor (if you do plan to sell through the traditional realtor and MLS listing). You want to be sure before you do the work that the upgrades will add enough value to the property to be worth the expense.
Marketing
Marketing can include many things including professional photography, drone services, a premium listing placement, print materials, and more. While some of these things are included in a typical listing agreement with a realtor, others are not. To sell the property as quickly as possible, you may find yourself shelling out a little extra to make sure your property gets seen. All of this is fine – but make sure the things you are spending money on upfront make sense in the long run and bring in the additional return you’re hoping for.
Listing + Agent Fees
While some agents are full service, not charging you anything aside from commission… others are not. Ask your real estate agent if they charge any types of separate fees for administrative costs, marketing expenses, or open house fees. Most agents won’t be asked to be reimbursed for these things, but if you’re looking for top of the line services, you may find yourself paying a bit extra.
Commissions
The agent commissions will amount to about 6% of the final sale price on average. This is a hefty amount to part with, so if you decide to list, be sure you like your agent, that they communicate well with you, and that they have a good marketing plan for your property. In some cases, you may be able to negotiate the commission rate or find an agent who offers limited service for a flat fee.
Closing Costs
Closing costs cover things such as a title search, surveys, and loan payoffs. While buyers will pay the majority of the closing costs, a seller can expect to pay anywhere from 1-3% of the final sale price in closing costs. One plus when you work with a professional, direct home buyer such as Anna Buys Houses, the closing costs can be avoided. Direct home buyers usually pay for your closing costs.
Holding Costs
If your home is on the market for a while, you’ll definitely want to remember to that you’ll have holding costs like utility bills, your homeowners insurance, property taxes, maintenance expenses, potentially landscaping or snow shoveling expenses, and of course a mortgage if applicable. Selling your home quickly, if you’re fortunate to do so, can equate to hundreds of dollars in savings for things you’d otherwise be spending money on if your home sits on the market for a while.
How to Sell It
Sell “As-Is”
Selling your house as-is can save you a fortune as long as you’e able to get the property in front of the right buyers – those who are looking for a home that they want to bring their own value to buy making the repairs and updates themselves. When you sell, you can focus on explaining your home’s potential, even including a cost analysis showing an estimate of what the improvements will cost. You’ll want to make sure investors and cash buyers see the potential value it may hold after the repairs and updates are made.
List It
A successful listing will likely require many of the costs listed above. You can save money by choosing a full-service agent so you don’t have any big financial surprises. If you choose to sell without making repairs, you may want to consider offering credit for buyers to renovate as they see fit; that should make it more enticing for them.
Sell to a Professional Buyer
Working with a professional buyer such as the team at Anna Buys Houses will allow you to sell your house quickly and for a fair price. We like to purchase homes where we can bring value to the situation; we are happy to make repairs and updates; in fact, we’re happy doing some pretty significant remodels. Our aim is to listen to what you want to get from the sale of your home and to work with you to make the process as simple as possible. And, we’d love it if you don’t even have to spend a dime to sell to us!